Join us for a special guided photography workshop at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre with wildlife ranger and photographer Tara Swan!
This is a unique chance to explore one of New Zealand's leading wildlife sanctuaries while learning about native wildlife and improving your photography skills. Tara is a passionate conservationist and accomplished wildlife photographer whose work and articles have been featured in Captivating Photography Journal. She will share her knowledge of both photography and the incredible wildlife that calls Pūkaha home.
This workshop has been made possible through the generous support and collaboration of Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre.
No camera? No problem. We will provide one if you don't have your own.
Places are strictly limited, so don't miss out. Register below to secure your spot!
Top photo by Tara Swan
Photo by Tara Swan
Workshop details
*Registrations are essential
On the day
Participants are required to bring their own DSLR cameras.
However, thanks to our generous supporters, we do have spare cameras available for use if you don’t have one.
What’s involved?
Our photography workshops are specially designed for young minds eager to explore photography and storytelling in a fun and supportive way.
Why our workshops are great for kids:
- Time outdoors to explore nature with fresh eyes and learn practical photography skills
- A fun, social experience with other curious young photographers
- A chance to slow down, pay attention, and really see the world around them
- A safe, encouraging space to express themselves through their photos
We will explore Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre together with well-known photographer and wildlife ranger Tara Swan. This is a fantastic opportunity to photograph nature and native wildlife at its best while learning more about the incredible species that call Pūkaha home.
What participants will learn:
- How to confidently use their cameras and work with different lenses
- How to develop stronger composition skills to create more striking photographs
- How to spot small details and find interesting subjects in nature
- How to work with natural light and adapt to different outdoor conditions
- How to capture wildlife
- How to tell a simple visual story through their photos
Photo by Tara Swan
About us
We are a group of professional and experienced photographers, passionate about helping young photographers grow, create powerful visual stories, and forge lifelong connections with like-minded peers.
After the workshop, every participant will be provided with their own online gallery and high-resolution digital copies of their photographs. This not only allows them to start building their very own portfolio but also gives them the opportunity to showcase their work at our exhibition.
Inspired learners
"Thank you so much for the awesome experience of taking your photography course! It taught me a lot that I didn’t know about cameras and photography before coming!" Loren W.
“I’ve learned so much through photography, especially how to look at things from a new angle. It helped me notice small things I never really paid attention to before, like how light can change the mood of a photo or how different colours can make something look different. Photography has taught me that you don’t just take a quick photo. You actually create something with your own ideas and the way you see things. It’s been a really cool experience learning how to put my ideas into my photos.” Sharmilla Tamang
“Thank you so much for the amazing photography experience and for teaching us how to use the cameras and take quality photos. It was so fun and I think I got a few good photos. We will definitely love to come to the next workshop.” Mali Inder
Our tutors
All our tutors have undergone criminal-background checks and are fully vaccinated to ensure a safe and secure learning environment.
Ana Lyubich
Ana is a lifestyle and nature photographer and is a founder of Excio Photo Community. She believes that each photograph is unique and reflects an individual’s personality.
Ana usually talks about the essentials of photography and works with students to develop their own style and build their first public photo portfolios.
Ann Kilpatrick
Ann is a dedicated street, people, and nature photographer and visual storyteller based in Wellington. She lives there with her family and is a strong advocate for nurturing young talent. Alongside guiding kids with their cameras, Ann takes high-quality photos of children at workshops, which we then share with their parents.
Zhanna Yasinetskaya
Zhanna is a family and kids photographer from Upper Hutt, dedicated to fostering a love for photography in young children. She is often found behind her camera or phone, recording videos of our workshops.
Joy Tracey
Joy is an experienced Wellington-based photographer. She loves nature, macro, and insect photography, and she's a great storyteller too. Join us on one of our Percy Reserve workshops, where Joy will be your special guide in the Weta Cave!